"He will guide you to all truth."

Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Holy Trinity Sunday, May 30, 2010 (HolyTrinityC)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University

Sunday Readings
Lecturas y Comentarios
Prayer of the Hours
Burning Question: What is Virtue?

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Questions on Sunday's Readings for use by discussion groups,
prayer groups, or for individual prayer.
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First Reading
Book of Proverbs, Chapter 8, Verses 22-31

1. The reading says “I beside him as his craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, playing before him all the while, playing on the surface of his earth.” Who is talking? Is there a similarity between this ancient reading and the opening of John’s Gospel ?

2. The speaker says “I found delight in the human race.” Do you think anyone takes delight in you? Does God? Does Christ?

Second Reading
Letter of St. Paul to the Romans, Chapter 5, Verses 1-5

1. “The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” If God is the source, what kind of love is it that is in your heart? Can you feel or sense the presence of the Holy Spirit in yourself?

2. Why would God include us intimately in the divine love in the Trinity? If divine love is flowing through you while you are suffering, do you think this helps the world now?

Gospel
According to John, Chapter 16, Verses 12-15

1. Does the Spirit add anything to God’s revelation? Does the Spirit change your understanding of revelation? Can understanding of divine love be exhausted? Have you ever reached a place where “you could not bear” more knowledge of love?

2. Can the Holy Spirit use dissension and debate to bring about new understanding? Can these be signs of life? Discuss ways the church grows in understanding. What hinders growth in the church sometimes? What hinders your growth?

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“Receive the Holy Spirit."

Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Pentecost Sunday, May 23, 2010 (PentecostC)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University

Sunday Readings
Lecturas y Comentarios
Prayer of the Hours
Burning Question: What do say when asked if you are a Christian?

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Questions on Sunday's Readings for use by discussion groups,
prayer groups, or for individual prayer.
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First Reading
Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 2, Verses 1-11

1. People from every nation were confused and amazed because through the Holy Spirit everyone understood what the apostles were saying. If you were completely open to the Holy Spirit, would you have a deeper understanding of all that you hear and see? Was the miracle in the speaking or the hearing? How does the Holy Spirit use the miracle of hearing with you?

2. How were the disciples different after the Spirit’s arrival? In your own life do you tend to see the Holy Spirit as dynamic and constant or only occasional? Rate you awareness on a scale of 1 to 10 of your belief in the Holy Spirit as your constant companion. Are you different when you are confident that the Spirit is with you? Explain.

Second Reading
Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 8-17 or
First Corinthians, Chapter 12, Verses 3b-7, 12-13

1. How do the gifts of the Spirit (knowledge, wisdom, understanding, reverence, courage, right judgment, awe and wonder in the presence of God) create unity in the Church? Think about one of the worst problems in the world today. What has the Spirit given to help eradicate that problem?

2. Were Puccini and Shakespeare given gifts for their own pleasure? Then what for? What are your gifts from the Holy Spirit and how do you see yourself using them?

Gospel
According to John, Chapter 20, Verses 19-23 or
John, Chapter 14, Verses 15-16, 23b-26

1. Jesus said, “I have much more to tell you…. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth will guide you in all truth.” Now the Spirit has come. Do we know the whole truth about God’s salvific plan? Explain.

2. Compare God breathing life into Adam, and Jesus breathing on the disciples when he gave them the Holy Spirit. What is the significance for you? The disciples’ first task after receiving the Holy Spirit was to forgive sins. What impact does forgiveness of sin have on peace?


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"Father, they are your gift to me."

Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Seventh Sunday of Easter, May 16, 2010 (AscensionC)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University

Sunday Readings (Seventh Sunday Easter C)
Sunday Readings (Ascension Sunday)
Lecturas y Comentarios
Prayer of the Hours
Burning Question: What are the 5 reasons we pray?

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Questions on Sunday's Readings for use by discussion groups,
prayer groups, or for individual prayer.
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First Reading
Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 1, Verses 1-11 (Ascension)
Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 7, Verses 55-60 (Seventh Sunday)

1. What are the parallels between Stephen and Jesus? What made Stephen able to witness with his blood? Have you ever received a grace to do something you wouldn’t ordinarily do? Discuss times when you have seen this kind of thing happen.

2. What does “witness to the ends of the earth” mean to you? Do you “witness” in any way? Do people today witness anything “to the ends of the earth”? What?

Second Reading
Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians Chapter 1, Verses 17-23 or
Letter to the Hebrews Chapter 9, Verses 24-28; Chapter 10, Verses19-23 (Ascension)
Book of Revelation, Chapter 22, Verses 12-14, 16-17, 20 (Seventh Sunday)

1. We do not yet experience Christ’s coming completely even though he comes to us in the sacraments and word. Think of some times or instances in your life where an appropriate plea to God would be, “Come, Lord Jesus”.

2. How does Christ’s sacrifice differ from “the high priest’s, (who) enters the sanctuary each year with blood that is not his own”?

Gospel
According to Luke, Chapter 24, Verses Luke 46-53 (Ascension)
According to John, Chapter 17, Verses 20-26 (Seventh Sunday)

1. What was the promise of the Father that Jesus spoke of? Who brings Jesus’ message and mission to completion in us and in the world? The Holy Spirit? Do you listen for the Spirit’s message to you personally?

2. Jesus actually said of the disciples, “Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me.” Are there people you think of as “gifts” to you? How can we reside with Jesus now that he is in heaven? Is there a way in which you reside with him? Who else does?

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Please share your reflections on the above Sunday Readings with other ParishWorld readers. May we be blessed by God's words as reflected in your thoughts and experience-sharing.

"Whoever loves me will keep my word"

Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 9, 2010 (6EasterC)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University

Sunday Readings (Cycle C)
Lecturas y Comentarios
Prayer of the Hours
"What does the Holy Spirit do in your life?"

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Questions on Sunday's Readings for use by discussion groups,
prayer groups, or for individual prayer.
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First Reading
Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 15, Verses 1-2, 22-29

1. Is there any growth without tension? Would the Church be better off if there were never dissension and debate? Do the present shames and accusations against the Church have any growth value (besides all the harm done). Is it all “their” fault, or are we all involved?

2. Was this a ceasefire or did the early Christians in this story actually make concessions? Discuss the value of both listening and then representing your own view when coming to work out a problem. How are your listening skills? Do you try to see the other person’s point of view?

Second Reading
Book of Revelation, Chapter 21, Verses 10-14, 22-23

1. Is all of salvation history included in John’s vision? Whichever answer you give, tell why.

2. In his vision John describes what we will see when we meet Christ face to face. How do we see Christ now? Where do we meet him now?

Gospel
According to John, Chapter 14, Verses 23-29

1. When you love someone you want to be with that person. How does this relate with the statement, “Whoever loves me, we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” How do you feel about Jesus when he talks like this? What does it tell you about God?

2. The second great gift in this reading is the promise of the Holy Spirit who will teach us everything. Do you think there could be a direct proportion between how much a person loves and how much the Holy Spirit is being allowed to live in that person?

Online Sunday Bible Study Group
Please share your reflections on the above Sunday Readings with other ParishWorld readers. May we be blessed by God's words as reflected in your thoughts and experience-sharing.